“If a stranger knocks, you let them in – they could be a god in disguise.” But the publicity notes for The Gods of Strangers, a tri-lingual commissioned work, by Adelaide playwright Elena Carapetis, do not mention it might also …

November 14, 2018

In recent years OzAsia has become one of the highlights of Adelaide’s festival calendar but never more so than in 2018.
The hugely popular Moon Lantern Parade, cruelly thwarted by uncertain spring weather in recent years and cancelled several times, has benefited now that the festival begins in late October instead of a month earlier. More than 40,000 attended this year’s parade which featured contributions from ethnic community groups, schools, performance companies …

November 05, 2018

Here is the Message You Asked for …Don’t Tell Anyone Else ;-)
Created by en? (What has happened ? How does it come to this ?)
Chunqiu Theatre Company, Dream Can.
Space Theatre, Adelaide Festival Centre.
November 1.
OzAsia concludes November 11.

OzAsia is in its final week in Adelaide and again highlights artistic director, Joseph Mitchell’s flair for finding the new and intriguing in Asian performance art. This time it is 33 year old Chinese director, …

October 31, 2018

While I Was Waiting
by Mohammad Al Attar
Directed by Omar Abusaada
Dunstan Playhouse, Adelaide Festival Centre
October 30.

Four and a Half Stars

Murray Bramwell

At the Q&A, held after the first of only two performances of Syrian playwright, Mohammad Al Attar’s While I Was Waiting, someone asked the director, Omar Abusaada what message he wanted audiences to take away from the play. His reply was that he did not want his theatre to be …

When young men join the army what do they hope for ? Is it really a choice or a last resort ? Is it to serve Queen and country, or to be part of a Mark Wahlberg movie ? Originated by London’s Yard Theatre and adapted for Australian audiences, Pamela Carter’s Lines introduces …

Launched in 2006 by Adelaide Festival Centre director Douglas Gautier, OzAsia is now in its twelfth year and is looking more innovative and intriguing than ever. Since its inception the festival has expanded its horizons and become ever more inclusive. Already spanning Asia and South East Asia – China, Japan to Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia, as …

September 25, 2018

Welcome the Bright World
by Stephen Sewell.
House of Sand in association with
State Theatre Company South Australia.
Queen’s Theatre, Adelaide.
September 21. Tickets: $22- $42. Bookings 131 246 or online
Duration 2 hours 25 minutes (including interval)
Until October 6.

Welcome the Bright World and welcome back Stephen Sewell. His turbulent, engrossing, digressive, disputative drama has been greatly missed. It is 36 years since Nimrod first staged their Welcome, and, while others of Sewell’s works, with their glorious …

Chloe Jackson is an Olympic hopeful. It is 2012 and, for the first time, women’s boxing is an official event for the London Games. Bitch Boxer, Charlotte Josephine’s monologue for UK company Snuff Box Theatre, is a …

July 26, 2018

Creditors
by August Strindberg.
A new version by Duncan Graham
State Theatre Company South Australia.
Space Theatre, Adelaide Festival Centre.
July 24. Tickets: $32- $61. Bookings 131 246 or online
Duration 1 hour 45 minutes (no interval)
Until August 5.

Asked why he had a portrait of the Swedish playwright August Strindberg above his writing desk, Henrik Ibsen said : “He is my mortal enemy, he must hang there and observe everything I write.”